NASA are set to reveal what could be the most significant scientific discovery in modern times, teasingly stating they have unearthed something on Mars "for the history books."

Excited experts are already speculating that the imminent announcement will confirm that signs of life are evident on the red planet, as the £1.6billion Mars Curiosity rover seems to have discovered what it set out to find on Mars.

Chief scientist John Grotzinger said: "This data is gonna be one for the history books. It’s looking really good."

The finding was made by the six-wheeled rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument in the Rocknest area of the Gale Crate, close to where the rover touched down.

SAM is Curiosity's on-board chemistry lab and is able to take a sample of Martian rock, soil or air and find out what it is made of.

Most significantly, it is capable of identifying organic compounds - carbon containing substances that could indicate life.

If it’s going in the history books, organic material is what I expect

Peter Smith, from the University of Arizona, told Wired.com: "If it’s
going in the history books, organic material is what I expect."

Scientists are currently double checking for signs of organic matter in rock, soil or air samples before an announcement is made on December 3.

Researchers also want to avoid a repeat of past mistakes in which Earth air has contaminated Martian samples.

The Mars Curiosity rover landed on the red planet in August for a $5.2billion mission that will last over two years.

It is hoped that if Curiosity can find evidence that there was water on the surface of Mars, it could be proven that the planet was once able to sustain life.